Saturday 14 July 2007 19.08 EDT
First published on Saturday 14 July 2007 19.08 EDT

Tong twister

If you want to understand the Beatles - and so everything that ever followed - you need to understand the Goons, the 1950s comedy troupe involving Spike Milligan, Michael Bentine, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers. Unchained Melodies (Decca) features 14 of their recordings, including Prince Charles' fave, 'The Ying Tong Song.' Similarly reissued are compilations from Marty Feldman , Kenneth Williams and Frankie Howerd

Field music

Forget the Guilty Pleasures franchise: Lost Vagueness are going mainstream. The team behind that mysterious corner of the Glastonbury site are bringing out their first, eponymous compilation (through Universal Music Catalogue), which mixes the likes of Mika with Dizzy Gillespie and Chumbawamba. Meanwhile, for men in suede loafers who want their northern soul easily accessible on CD comes the four-disc Northern Soul Story (Sony/BMG) - climaxing with Tobi Legend's classic 'Time Will Pass You By'.

Some old banger

World music compilation of the month - well, the year - has to be OMM contributor Charlie Gillett's annual Sound of the World (Warner Classics) number. This instalment celebrates the talents of the Gotan Project, Tinariwen, Devenda Banhart and all points in between. Meanwhile, Russ Jones and Basement Jaxx's Felix Buxton serve up Gypsy Beats and Balkan Bangers Too (Atlantic Jaxx), which covers similar ground to Nomad Disko (Rough Guide). You like? On more of a Jack Black tip, check out Mexican Boleros (Trikont), which brings classic shellac recording to light.

The Brigg adventure

Hugely influential folk singer Anne Briggs made her mark in the Sixties and early Seventies but then vanished from the scene. The Time Has Come, her only album for CBS, was originally issued in 1971 and is only now made available on CD: a tantalising introduction to her talent.